MONTICELLO, Maine – Catholic Charities Maine has expanded the capacity of its Hunger & Relief Services food bank with a new commercial freezer at its Monticello warehouse, strengthening food distribution across rural Northern Maine.
The nearly fivefold increase in frozen food storage will allow the organization to accept larger donations, safely store them and distribute them based on community need rather than donation timing. The expanded capacity will improve access to protein-rich foods, strengthen inventory management and help meet growing demand across the region.
Catholic Charities’ Hunger & Relief Services program distributes more than 1.5 million pounds of food each year through a network of 45-plus community food pantries and distribution sites across Aroostook, Washington and Penobscot counties. The program serves more than 5,800 unduplicated households — nearly 20,000 people each month — and distributes about 700 monthly food boxes to older adults through the federal Commodity Supplemental Food Program.
“The new freezer is a lynchpin in strengthening our inventory management system and ensuring the long-term sustainability of our operations,” Jon Blanchard, director of Hunger & Relief Services, said. “Food donations often arrive unpredictably and in very large quantities, creating a feast-or-famine cycle. This investment allows us to accept those donations when they’re available and distribute them in a steady, reliable way that better serves our pantry partners and the families who rely on them.”
The new freezer can store up to 320,000 pounds of frozen food, allowing Catholic Charities to accept truckload-sized donations previously not always possible to accommodate. The added capacity will help maintain a more consistent supply of frozen foods, including vegetables and meat, throughout the year.
Reliable access to nutritious food remains a critical need across the region. According to Good Shepherd Food Bank data, one in four children in Aroostook County experiences food insecurity. As families continue to face rising food and household costs and changes to federal nutrition assistance programs, dependable food access is increasingly important.
“Investing in expanded freezer space is about much more than adding storage,” Michael Smith, chief program officer, said. “It strengthens our ability to match an unpredictable food supply with consistent community need and ensures that when generous donations become available, we’re ready to receive, preserve and distribute them to the people who need them most.”
The project also modernizes operations by centralizing frozen storage, improving energy efficiency and reducing operating costs. It was made possible through the support of private foundations, individual donors and a dedicated fundraising campaign.
Catholic Charities Maine is one of the largest and most diverse human service agencies in the State. Since 1966, it has provided leadership programs and services to reduce poverty, support families, and advocate for justice in social structures. Empowering and strengthening individuals and families of all faiths, CCM serves more than 25,000 annually. Programming includes providing behavioral and mental health services for adults and children, substance use disorder treatment and recovery, strengthening and growing services for Maine’s aging population, providing affordable dental and orthodontic care, supporting New Mainers in integrating into local communities, creating program models for emergency assistance services and addressing hunger/food security issues, among other services. More information is available at www.ccmaine.org.
